The densely populated island nation has had a torrid time over the years in supplying sufficient water resources for its people. To fulfil its requirements of water, Singapore has been dependent on Malaysia, with whom it enjoys a good relationship except in terms of water sharing. Thus, along with the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the public utilities board took the initiative to create water that is suitable for consumption from what is otherwise known as waste.
The project to reclaim and recycle water commenced almost a decade and a half ago when there was a surge in the demand for fresh water and the Singaporean economy was booming. A scientific process was put in place to purify water and make non potable water clean and pure enough for human use. The result of same as dubbed ‘NEWater’ and has succeeded in lessening the strain on the Singaporean government to liaise with Malaysia for this basic human necessity that Singapore does not have in abundance.
The NEWater Visitor Centre was established to help the younger generations understand and value the worth of water, while also educating themselves on the properties of NEWater. Visitors can learn about the water purification process which commences with the usual standard wastewater treatment, moves to a second stage where a process known as ‘microfiltration’ takes place to remove the bacteria from the water. Thirdly reverse osmosis is performed on the water and finally the water is ultra violet disinfected before alkaline is added.
The centre has interactive games and multimedia presentations to teach its visitors about the many uses of NEWater, which does includes human consumption, but is mostly used in the construction industry and for air cooling purposes. A NEWater factory visit is an integral part of a visit to this water hub, where guests get a hand – on idea of how well the water is cleansed before being released for local use.
The centre is a place for education and growth, thus if you are relaxing at a Singapore city hotel with your kids, don’t forget to take them over. Even a 4 star hotel Singapore has sufficient luxury and comfort for regular travellers, so be prepared to be pleasantly surprised if you stay over at a hotel such as the M Hotel Singapore.
